New Motor Vehicles Act: Rush for pollution check, rise in licence applications

Noida: Though the new motor vehicles act is yet to be implemented in UP, the fear of high penalties for traffic violations has led to an increase in the number of applicants for a driving licence and commuters suddenly queuing up outside pollution control centres in Gautam Budh Nagar.
While the pollution control centre operators are busy, there are tough days ahead for those selling high-frequency horns in the markets of sectors 9,16 and 53. Many sellers claim their sales have slumped over the past 15 days as several motorists are rushing to remove pressure horns from their cars. Assistant regional transport officer (RTO), administration, Arunendra Pandey told TOI that “since the time slot for the written test for a driving licence is limited, the number of exams happening in a day can’t be increased”. “But since more applicants are coming forward, the waiting time for the test has now increased from a week to 15 days.”
Similarly, many vehicle owners, especially those who commute to Delhi, are making a beeline at PUC centres in the wake of provision of Rs 10,000 fine for the violation. On Wednesday, commuters could be seen making a beeline outside the pollution control centres in sectors 21, 39 and 32. The longest queue was witnessed outside the PUC centre at the Indian Oil Corporation petrol pump in Sector 21. While some irritated commuters left the PUC centres looking at the long queues, many turned up thrice to get the job done.
Sushen Majumdar, the centre in-charge, said that while earlier there would be around 70-80 PUCs issued everyday, the number has gone up to around 130 to 140 now. “People are afraid of the increased fines. The diesel vehicles take longer for the check and hence the queue,” he said.
Devendra Singh, a resident of Sector 12 who turned up at the centre to get a PUC for his car, said he had come for the third time. “I had to return twice because of the long queues outside the PUC centre. I read in the newspaper that the fines have increased. A man was fined Rs 10,000 in Delhi for not possessing the PUC, which is huge,” he said. Atulesh Saran Mathur, who arrived at the centre to get a PUC for his Verna, said while he had gotten a PUC issued in Chandigarh, he had lost the document and did not want to take risk.
Likewise, those selling high-frequency horns in the markets of sector 9, 16 and 53 are the worst hit. “Many Bullet riders are now removing the pressure horns,” said an electrician.